outwithbenjiboi

Special K Protein, Wheaties, Shredded Wheat: I love them so much!!!! All under 5 grams of sugar per serving, and I won't add extra sugar. Will eat them with super protein skim milk. But -- are they even allowed at all? Do you have to crush them up? Who eats cold Cereal, when did you start, and how do you do it? Jen

I really like what Endless says about freeing ourselves from the burden of dieting. I've been dieting for darn near 40 years (since age 13), and, to be very frank, I'm sick of that sh@! I'm spending my recovery weeks educating myself about 1. healthy, high-Protein foods, 2. new products/foods that I may not be familiar with, but that others find very useful, and 3. EASY recipes that will work for both my wife (a vegetarian) and me -- a base to which I can add meat and she can add a meat alternative. I figure, if I choose, buy, stock, have on-hand, and prepare the right foods, the SLEEVE will take care of the rest.

Thanks for the replies everyone! My take away is that I shouldn't, but if I do, 1. do it infrequently 2. measure, 3. let it soak a bit first, 4. if it feels bad -- STOP. I'll keep my Special K Protein around to add as a topping to yogurt or as a dry snack. Thanks for the encouragement, and congrats to you all on your amazing stats!!!

@Sleeve Siren: How many more days until you CAN say this? You will get there!!! Go! Go! Go! BTW, you might consider leaving the mozzarella off of the ricotta cheese bake -- that got pretty congealed by the time it was cool enough to eat.

Taking enough pain medication to keep you comfortable allows you to drink more and walk more! Don't "grin and bear it!" Take the meds!! And congrats on your surgery! Jen

I've had the same problem! Able to fall asleep, but then waking up repeatedly during the night. I'm wondering if my synthroid prescription needs adjusting, since I've lost 44 lbs. I know from past experience that when my dose is too high, my legs get jumpy, my dreams get seriously vivid and bizarre, and I get all hyped up. Maybe ALL of our prescriptions (including CPAP prescriptions) need adjustment. Jen

I don't care one way or the other if anyone tells or not. After hearing about some of the people ya'll work with, I wouldn't want to talk to them either! I guess it just depends on one's personality and circumstances. Circumstances-wise: I have wonderful colleagues at work, and we all support each other with personal challenges. Several of my colleagues are overweight and walk together at lunch; we have a health/fitness directorate at work with a bariatric nutritionist on campus; we have an annual "Portion Off the Pounds" program and everyone in the CLASS shares their eating habits/goals; we have three gyms -- all free. Personality-wise: I was married to an abusive alcoholic for nearly 20 years. On top of that, I was GAY the whole time! With the help of therapy and Al-Anon, I came to see all of the secrets I'd been spinning/holding as TOXIC to me and my growth. So I started a personal policy of 100 percent honesty. Now, I'm very frank and open with everyone with whom I have ANY type of relationship; work, neighbor, family, volunteer, kids' friends, etc. My feeling now is: if they don't get it, I'm willing to invest the time in educating them about alcholism, domestic violence, equal rights, and -- yes -- bariatric surgery! If they're not interested in either learning something new about the world or about me, of if they just can't "stomach" it, fine. But if they are, then I've done some good in the world, expanded my circle of support, and opened someone's mind. All of those benefits are worth whatever risks I face. I am 100 percent me, honest, transparent and accountable 100 percent of the time. It's only made my life better and better and better. No "privacy?" NO PROBLEM! And no, I'm not stupid about cybersecurity/information security. In fact, it's part of my professional industry. BTW, I work for the Department of Defense with military officers from the Joint services and from all over the world, and I'm often the FIRST out gay person they've ever met. I get a lot of appreciation -- and a lot of disclosures from others! -- in response to my visibility. I'm sorry about my "shame" comment earlier. Obviously, that's not the case with everyone (although I'm sure it IS the case with some). But I never again want to live in fear of the risks of sharing ANYTHING about myself that's important to me. If I worked somewhere that imposed that risk, or had relationships with people who imposed that risk -- I wouldn't for long.

I'm a 15th-er too! So... 6 days out now. Incisions are good, glue fell off, strips still on drain incision. Had first BM on Sat., after three nights of Colace at bedtime. It's all working just fine now; no diarrhea and no constipation. Having a bit of pressure whenever I drink, but not really pain. I figure I'm just still inflamed. Been getting in about 48 oz of full liquids, helped greatly by SF popsicles. Made some protein skim milk for decaf coffee and tea. Cannot STAND my pre made shakes that I LOVED pre-surgery. Had a TERRIBLE experience with Gasx gels getting stuck mid chest the other night, even though I'm swallowing several other pills with no problem. I'm taking two large capsules a day of Ursodiol, to prevent gallstones. I will be on that for six months. Haven't seen much mention of that medication on VST! Gonna get a sippy cup tonight, and stock up on puree supplies; "eating" ratchets up to purees tomorrow!!!!

I don't get all of the secrecy AT ALL! I told everybody and their brother; neighbors, colleagues, especially my supervisors! I started talking about it from the very beginning of the process, and educated everyone over the months-long process. The result is that my entire community is informed, rooting for me, checking on me, and celebrating me!! I think a burning need to keep it a secret is a throwback to feelings of shame about who you are. I'm done with that nonsense!

I was sleeved Oct 15. Please add me to the FB page! Jrr8675309@hotmail.com

I had my surgery on Oct 15 at Hopkins Bayview in Baltimore, MD. Oh yeah, and I'm gay. And gay married. And gay HAPPY!! I'm about 40 lbs down, with 80 more to go. I'm still on my post-op full liquids, but I'm doing great! No complications, and I'm off the pain meds and walking the neighborhood. Jen

I was October 15 at Hopkins in Maryland. I'm on full liquids until Tuesday, then get to move to puree. Any other surgery completers out there? Jen

I had my surgery on October 15, and I'm now four days out. I'm sooooo freaking happy; I just figured out I could have Tomato Soup on my full liquids diet!!! Jen